Sparrow

by Sherri L. Smith

Family sticks with family. That’s the golden rule G’ma taught Kendall. But once G’ma’s gone, Kendall has no family left—except for an aunt G’ma asked for at the end, who Kendall barely remembers. Only Aunt Janet knows what G’ma had in mind, but she never even shows up at the funeral. With child services on Kendall’s case and just 10 days to get her apartment lease renewed, Kendall sets out for Janet’s home in New Orleans to get her life in order—and her questions answered.

But what she finds are new friends, like Evie, who is confined to a wheelchair, but can sing like the women on G’ma’s old records; Miss Clare, who needs Kendall’s help as much as Kendall needs hers; and Marcus, who is younger than them all, but still knows how to get by. And when Mardi Gras arrives, with its parades and prizes and music, anything seems possible—even making a fresh start, with or without Janet.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published July 11, 2006

About the author

Sherri L. Smith is the award-winning author of YA novels LUCY THE GIANT, SPARROW, HOT SOUR SALTY SWEET, FLYGIRL and ORLEANS. In October 2015, she makes her middle grade debut with THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE from G.P. Putnam and Sons for Penguin Random House.

Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist.

She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.

Reviews

[Jenne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another book that takes inspiration from the biblical quote about God taking care of even the littlest sparrow. This was a quick, easy read and it was enthusiastically received by a struggling reader student. A young girl loses her parents and lives with her ailing grandmother; when grandmother dies, the girl sets off on an adventure to find her long-lost aunt in New Orleans, and finds new bonds in her search.

I found a few errors in this book: she enters her aunt's apartment to find a "sad little sofa," then a few pages later she laments that her aunt does not even have a sofa. There were a couple of other discrepancies, too, but I've forgotten them.

[kylie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, however it was not my complete favorite. It was a very interesting plot but I didn’t not enjoying the ending as much as I had hoped. Overall, I did like the book, but I would probably not read it again, anytime soon.

[Claudia Faith · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5

This book was very straightforward and pretty much told you a summary of the book in the synopsis. It left me kind of uninterested and like, “welp thats it” but it was a short book that went by quick so 🤷‍♀️

[Paige]

After her grandma dies, Kendall has no family left, save for her Aunt Janet, whom she barely remembers. She sets out for New Orleans to find her aunt, and encounters new and extraordinary friends on the way, and perhaps a chance to begin a new life. Sparrow is a coming of age tale where new and unusual friends are found, a sense of community is formed, and inner strength shines through. Teachers may like this novel for students because it presents a variety of characters that represent multiple identities, and a protagonist who comes into her own. Students will like the colorful characters and the unique story of a girl who finds love and support from friends, a new beginning, and the secrets of her family history; with our without her Aunt.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

So-so story, although a little more sad than most, about an orphan who goes to find the next living relative after her grandmother passes away. The fact that this turns out to be her delinquent aunt who has fled the scene is interesting, as is her automatic bonding with her aunt's neighbors. However, what is unlikely and somewhat sappy is that in the course of a few weeks, the protaganist decided she wants to be legally adopted by these neighbors and stay in New Orleans forever with the new friends she has made. That being said, I can see how this story of healing and setting down new roots would be appealing and therapeutic for some readers.

[Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book off of a shelf in my school library about a week ago. And to my pleasant surprise, I loved it! A great story, very believable, with realistic and emotionally sound characters. Although written in 2006 (and likely based around that time-setting as well), this book reads like a Classic. A definite recommend for anyone looking for a really nice weekend read.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sparrow is about a teenage girl searching for the meaning of home and family. I think the fact that the girl loses her parents and brother and then grandma is a bit cliche, but the story is good and I liked the ending.

[Susie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading this, I decided it's more for a middle school girl's reading genre. It was a quick read and a good story. Would be a great lesson for girls in knowing how difficult life is for some people.

[saadia k]

Having now read Lucy the Giant, I may come back to this one... but for the way I was invested in LtG from the get-go, I just wasn't with this book. Stay tuned...

[Purpose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a page turner. i enjoyed the way the author waited till the end to explain everything but still made it seem like a happy ending.

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story wasn't as engaging as her later two works have been.